Tuesday, July 12, 2011

IBM Employees Support “Save the La Mesa Watershed Project”

When I first heard about this event and was given an invitation, I initially said YES because I also wanted to help support the preservation of the La Mesa Eco Park in a small way. Unfortunately, the event's schedule was changed due to rains. It was moved the same day that my family was going up north for a short trip.

Quezon City, July 4, 2011 – IBM in the Philippines supported the second phase of the “Save the La Mesa Watershed Project” of Bantay Kalikasan, ABS CBN Foundation’s environmental arm by adopting 800 trees last Saturday (July 2), wherein thousands of IBMers participated in an environmental awareness briefing and ‘eco – amazing race’ activity to better understand, protect and maintain the La Mesa Watershed.The La Mesa Watershed is the last remaining forest in Metro Manila. It is the site of the reservoir that supplies water to millions of Filipinos in the metropolis. Bantay Kalikasan is in charge of the rehabilitation and protection of the La Mesa Watershed mainly through reforestation (phase one) and protection & maintenance (phase two) of what was established the last seven years. IBM supports Bantay Kalikasan in its commitment to look after the environment by rehabilitating and protecting one of the country’s most critical watersheds.The activity is part of IBM’s Celebration of Service, a program designed for employees, retirees and business partners, to donate their time and expertise during the company’s Centennial year. IBMers in the Philippines and around the world are volunteering in their local communities, helping with civic challenges and societal needs. In Cebu, IBM employees in cooperation with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Visayas Regional Office recently worked on a Mangrove Reforestation Project in Olango Island.IBM is using its Centennial to engage with the business leaders, academia, clients and local communities in the 170 countries the company does business through a year-long initiative."IBM has survived and thrived for 100 years by staying relevant, sustaining a culture of working for a higher purpose, while being ready to take big and bold bets as necessary. This has allowed us to transform technology, business and society, and we believe it will enable us to achieve our objective of making the world even better in our second century," said James Velasquez, Country General Manager, IBM Philippines.“In order to succeed for the long term, you must manage for the long term. This is the key lesson IBM has learned over 100 years,” he added.Since January 2011, IBMers, retirees and their families, have donated more than 2.5 million hours of service to communities worldwide. Similarly, over 300,000 employees, close to three quarters of its global workforce are volunteering this Centennial year in more than 5,000 projects in 120 countries, meeting civic challenges and societal challenges serving millions in need.For more information on the IBM Centennial, visit: www.ibm100.com

It could've been a very fun and enjoyable event of tree planting and communion with nature. Oh well, hope to really go next time. Thanks IBM! :)